Tytin Jewelry Founder Tina Chan Receives the Carelle-WJA 2015 Grant

RAPAPORT... The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) Foundation awarded its $5,000 annual Carelle-WJA Grant to Tina Chan of Tytin Jewelry in Chicago. Chan anticipates using the funds toward making her newly opened store a leading force in support of Chicago's jewelry designers.

Chan said, "Our overall mission is to create community within Chicago's independent jewelry-making industry, provide support and resources for that community's creative process and have a positive space of commerce that includes selling goods to the maker community, as well as providing a space for designers to sell their own creations to the public."

In 2012, Chan founded Tytin Jewelry, a brand dedicated to handcrafting "jewelry for the wearer who doesn't want to feel burdened by gaudiness or trend-saturated designs, but instead wants to make a subtle and unique statement," she said. Future plans for Tytin Jewelry include selling jewelry-making tools and supplies and holding classes, demonstrations and workshops that focus on jewelry related topics. The store will also provide studio space for individuals to work on their own projects, a professional meeting area, a jewelry photography station and a place where designers can sell finished jewelry.

Chan graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and then pursued the applied jewelry arts program at the Gemological Institute of America.

The Carelle-WJA grant was created in memory of Brooke Tivol McGrath and intended to aid in establishing a designer's business. Eligible candidates must be current members of the Women's Jewelry Association and in their first five years of business. During 2015, WJA has awarded $38,500 in scholarships and grants to women in the industry.